Packing and method of making the same



May 10,1927. 1,627,698 J. R. GAMMETER PACKING AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb. 6. 192 A 2 SheetsSheet 1 May 10, 1927. 1,627,698 7 J. R. GAMMETER PACKING AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb. 6. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4.75/27 main? Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES-- JOHN GAM METER, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE B. F. GOODRIOH COMPANY,

\ 1,627,698 PATENT OFFICE.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PACKING AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed February 6, 1924. Serial No. 890,864.

This invention relates to packings such as washers, gaskets or packings for stufling boxes, and to methods of making the same, and its general object is to provide an, im-

proved packing or packing material adapted to withstand the action of various fluids.

More specific objects are to provide a gasket j which may be economically and conveniently produced. A further object is to provide an improved method of making a packing having some or all of these characteristics.

Of the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mold plate and my improvedpacking material, in

a preferred form, being prepared on said plate.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a sheet of packing produced in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a packing ring mold and a packing ring therein, in process of manufacture.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, a part being sectioned and broken away, of a packing ring made in accordance with and'embody ing my invention in a preferred form.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a pipe junction including a pair of packing rings such as that shown in Fig. 4. v a

Fig. 6 is a sectional-perspective view of a packing ring made in accordance with and embodying my invention in a modified form.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a ring of difl'erent cross section but otherwise corresponding to that shown in Fig. '6.

In making a packing or packing material in accordance with my invention a metal, in a finely divided condition, preferably in the attenuated form of tinsel or floss, is mixed, impregnated or similarly associated shaped and vulcanized substantially in t e form which it is to assume in use. Any metal floss or tinsel, such as that of lead, copper or steel may be used, the characteristics in the finished product depending upon the particular metal employed. When a metal is used which alone would not be adapted to adhere to the rubber, as in the case of lead or steel, the tinsel or floss is preferably plated with copper, in any known or suitable manner, in order that the coating of copper may effect a good adhesion, in the vulcanized product, between' the attenuated rubber with which it is assometal and the ciated. I

Referring to the drawin s, Fig. 1 shows a preferred process of pro ucing my packing material, 10 being. a mold plate upon which is first placed a layer of metal floss 11. A suitable quantity. of a rubber solution or cement 12 is then poured upon said floss and allowed to permeate the layer of the latter.

The solvent is then permitted to evaporate from the cement, leaving the unvulcanized rubber associated wlth the metal floss, after which the layer of rubber and floss is compacted, as by rolling it down or pressing it between the plate 10 and a similar plate. The mass may be partially or completely vulcanized under the pressure of such plates,

if desired to produce sheet packing or as a preliminary to producing'individually molded packing members from the mass, but I do not findsuch preliminary vulcanization essential to the manipulation of the mass to bers.

compacting and partially vulcanizing the mass as described, the sheet 13 is .cut into strips 14, and a strip 14 is then'wrapped about a core 15 of unvulcanized or partially vulcanized rubber as shown in Fig. 3, the assembly, comprising the core and the strip, approximating theform desired in the finished packing member. Said assembly is then molded and vulcanized in a mold such- 18 and adapted to be drawn toward each other by bolts 22, 22, to compress the packing rings, 17 17, within said stufling boxes and against the pipes 18. v

The packing rings 23 and 24, shown in A sheet such as that shown at in Fig. 2' being produced, either by compacting or by produce individually molded mem- Figs. 6 and 7, are composed entirely of the mixture of metal floss and vulcanized rubber, the rubber core being omitted. The shape of the packing or gasket of course may be variously modified, and the rings of the types shown at 23 and 24: in Figs. 6 and 7, as well as the ring 17 of Figs. 4 and 5, may be made either by molding and vulcanizing a mixture of metallic floss and rubber pro: duced by associating the floss with rubber cement and evaporating the solvent from the latter, as described, or by molding and vulcanizing mixtures of metallic floss and rubber produced by other procedure, as by superposing alternate layersof metal floss and unvuloanized rubber and causing the latter to become disseminated throughout the floss by heat and pressure.

In use, the metal flossresists flow of the rubber with which it is associated, in case the latter becomes softened by heat or by the action of fluids in contact therewith, so that the packing is not subject to rapid disintegration or deterioration, and the metal and A the rubber protect each other against the action of such fluids, the deteriorating effect of oil upon rubber, for example, being retarded by the presence of the metal, and the disintegrating effect of acids upon the metal, for example, being retarded by the presence of the rubber. The finely divided or attenuated form of the metal is such as to permit the packing to be suitably deformed, by the members between which it is clamped, to provide an effective seal.

The packings may be readily and economically produced in a variety of shapes by simplemolding operations, and the undesirable effect of separation of the rubber from the metallic element or elements of the packing is reduced to aminimum.

When the rubber core is used, the deformability or resilience of the packing member is thereby increased, while the surface layer of metal floss and rubber thereon protects the core and provides at the surface of the packing member the characteristics above described. A packing member composed in ber which comprises mixing metal in fine, at-

tenuated strips with a solution of curable rubber, evaporating the solvent, and molding and vulcanizing the resultant mixture in the form of a finished packing member.

2. The method of making a packing member which comprises permeating a mass of metal floss with a solution of curable rubber, evaporating the solvent, and molding and vulcanizing the resultant mixture in the form of a finished packing member.

3. The method of making a packing material which comprises forming a layer of metal floss, permeating the layer of floss with a solution of curable rubber, evaporating the solvent, and forming from the layer of floss and rubber thus produced a compacted sheet.

4. The method of making a packing member which comprises forming a sheeted mixture of curable rubber and metal floss, cutting a strip from the sheet, wrapping said strip about an annular core, and molding and vulcanizing said strip to shape about said core.

5. The method of making a packing member which comprises forming a sheeted mixture of curable rubber and metal floss, cutting a strip from the sheet, wrapping said strip about an annular core of curable rubber, and molding and vulcanizing the assembled strip andcoie.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of January, 1924.

JOHN R. GAMMETER. 

